KGD congratulates Associate and Architectural Designer Ava Helm on becoming a Licensed Architect in the Commonwealth of Virginia!

Since joining KGD in 2022, Ava has been working on a wide range of design projects in the science and technology, education, and multifamily sectors. She especially appreciates and earnestly seeks opportunities to work alongside other creative designers at KGD and will often be found around the office gleaning professional pointers and learning from her peers. To date, some of her notable projects have included the award-winning Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) Headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, and the SoNYa – a 14-story, 330-unit multifamily building in Washington, DC. She has also contributed to the master planning and design concept efforts for the Howard University Center for the Fine Arts & Communications and Novavax corporate campus.

KGD Principal and Co-President Manoj Dalaya says, "Ava is a vibrant and driving force within our firm and the AIA Northern Virginia chapter. Her discipline, leadership, and ability to inspire both peers and clients make her a standout emerging professional whose impact continues to grow."

It is also worth noting that Ava was successfully nominated to the 2023 AIA Virginia Emerging Leaders in Architecture (ELA) program, an intensive, year-long initiative in Richmond, Virginia, focused on building resiliency hubs—centers that provide essentials like energy, food, water, and shelter during times of crisis. She was also elected to serve as Vice Chair for AIA Northern Virginia’s Young Architects Forum (YAF).

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